The members of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of
the Council of Europe, adopted two resolutions during their 19th
session in Strasbourg (France) on 28 October 2010, urging local
and regional authorities to take specific measures for the
integration of Muslim women and the integration of young people from disadvantaged
neighbourhoods.

Speakers at the debateAmy Koopmanschap (Netherlands, SOC)
The raporteur Amy Koopmanschap introduced the debate on
“Cultural integration of Muslim women in European cities”. The
report on this subject, together with the resolution adopted,
underline the difficulties facing Muslim migrant women,
particularly the phenomenon of double cultural disaffiliation
whereby they are often disconnected from their culture of origin
and unable to identify with the dominant culture of the host
country. The resolution stresses the role of local and regional
authorities, calling upon them to implement specific policies on
education, language instruction, raising awareness of municipal
employees about integration issues, establishing places whey
they can meet and discuss including local media initiatives, and
participation in sports activities.

Naima Azough, former member of the lower house of the
Netherlands Parliament
Speaking
in the debate, Naima Azough stressed the need for integration
through education and work. “The more educated and economically independent women are, the better able they are to participate
fully as citizens of your countries,” she said. She also pointed
out that it was important not to “Islamise” the debate, and to
encourage mutual dialogue in order to curb a growing hostility
towards each other and combat Islamophobia.Speech

Eunice Campbell-Clark (United Kingdom)
On the same day,
the Congress held a debate on the integration of young people
from disadvantaged neighbourhoods. The report presented by the
rapporteur Eunice Campbell-Clark raises the question of the
“youth divide” which lands young people from disadvantaged
neighbourhoods in situations of social exclusion. The resolution
adopted calls upon European local and regional authorities to
develop programmes for their inclusion: creating youth services;
introducing assessment procedures; involving young people in
decision-making processes; and setting up mentoring systems.
This also depends on the development of education, training,
guidance services, and better access to new information
technology. Furthermore, the resolution asks local and regional
elected representatives to be guided by the European Charter for
the Participation of Young People in Local and Regional Life and
to guarantee its application.Speech

Documents of the debates
Cultural integration of Muslim women in European cities